OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Public Works' 'Common Sense' Recommendations Already Saving Millions More than Planned

Press Release

Date: Aug. 17, 2007
Location: Charleston, WV
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance


PUBLIC WORKS' ‘COMMON SENSE' RECOMMENDATIONS ALREADY SAVING MILLIONS MORE THAN PLANNED

Gov. Joe Manchin today said the latest results from the first phase of a plan to run state government more like a business saved West Virginia more than $77 million in its first year of implementation, and is projected to save approximately $350 million over five years if plans continue as they are today. Those figures represent increases from the initial projections announced last year, which suggested savings of approximately $67 million for the first year and $318 million over five years.

The first phase of the West Virginia Performance Review, a collection of "common sense" ideas to run state government more efficiently, includes recommendations compiled by the consulting firm Public Works LLC. In conjunction with state employees, Public Works reviewed the operations of the state departments of Transportation, Motor Vehicles, Purchasing and Health and Human Resources, identifying specific practices that will result in significant state and federal tax dollar savings.

"When we released the initial review last year, our estimates were conservative but we knew the potential for substantial savings was promising," the governor said. "We've implemented these suggestions more quickly than originally scheduled and the results - the money saved - are even better than we projected.

"Our goal is to operate state government as efficiently and business-like as possible, and the latest report shows that we are making great progress."
Phase One of the performance review includes changes ranging from calibrating Division of Highways salt spreaders to cracking down on Medicaid insurance fraud and switching state paycheck stubs to electronic format.

"In the last two years, we've saved this state, and our children and grandchildren, millions of dollars in potential tax burden through ‘Responsible Government' initiatives, and these latest, tangible results prove that more savings are on the way," Manchin said.
Public Works LLC was paid $500,000 for its work on this savings project.


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